Leica 50mm Summitar f-2 (1939) with Tri-X samples

[Dali]

To be honest these pictures could have been made with any decent 50mm lens.

I fully agree. Not sure these pictures show the real potential of the lens... It can be said from most of the pictures posted in the internet. Said differently, nothing replaces a print!

 

[Dali]

Gee, Nikanon, I did not think I would ever see pictures from Philadelphia (where I live). You seem to have captured its essence (although I do not know if that is a positive or pejorative statement). I have stood in that Megabus line many times: It is almost a subway stop to New York. - David Lyga

Isn't Megabus half way between 30th station and Drexel U?

 

[StoneNYC]

Stone, I find your comment borderline. Having money to afford a Leica has very little to do with photographic skills. If you disagree, feel free to elaborate.

I was being snarky, I admit that.

Realistically there are more people who can afford a new Leica who are not real photographers but want to talk about owning one to inflate their self importance. There are many people who are talented photographers who can afford a Leica and use it well, but there are more rich people who just want to buy one so they can talk about owning one, but suck at taking pictures. There are also many talented photographers who would want a new Leica but could never afford one.

Ergo by logic, there are more Leica owners who bought brand new that are not good at taking pictures than there are Leica owners who bought brand new, that are capable of taking good pictures.

I'm just going by logic, ultimately it doesn't matter, there are many canon 1DX owners who also can't really take a picture but bought one just to talk about owning one. This is true of many high end products. High end sports car owners (lotus/Ferrari/porche/Lamborghini/etc) who can't drive worth a $#!1

Sorry if I was insulting to you.

 

[NB23]

I was being snarky, I admit that.

Realistically there are more people who can afford a new Leica who are not real photographers but want to talk about owning one to inflate their self importance. There are many people who are talented photographers who can afford a Leica and use it well, but there are more rich people who just want to buy one so they can talk about owning one, but suck at taking pictures. There are also many talented photographers who would want a new Leica but could never afford one.

Ergo by logic, there are more Leica owners who bought brand new that are not good at taking pictures than there are Leica owners who bought brand new, that are capable of taking good pictures.

I'm just going by logic, ultimately it doesn't matter, there are many canon 1DX owners who also can't really take a picture but bought one just to talk about owning one. This is true of many high end products. High end sports car owners (lotus/Ferrari/porche/Lamborghini/etc) who can't drive worth a $#!1

Sorry if I was insulting to you.

Have you thought about the fact that you don't need to own a Leica in "real life" to be an owner on the internet?

I own a Ferrari. And a Lambo. And a Porsche. Actually, make it three of each.

 

[tony lockerbie]

Sure, any decent camera/ lens combo will do the job, but if you can afford a Leica, by all means get one...they are still lovely things to use.

 

[Dali]

Stone, if you want to be logical, judge people by their actions, not from your fantasy, it will make your life easier.

 

[Xmas]

I was being snarky, I admit that.

Realistically there are more people who can afford a new Leica who are not real photographers but want to talk about owning one to inflate their self importance. There are many people who are talented photographers who can afford a Leica and use it well, but there are more rich people who just want to buy one so they can talk about owning one, but suck at taking pictures. There are also many talented photographers who would want a new Leica but could never afford one.

Ergo by logic, there are more Leica owners who bought brand new that are not good at taking pictures than there are Leica owners who bought brand new, that are capable of taking good pictures.

I'm just going by logic, ultimately it doesn't matter, there are many canon 1DX owners who also can't really take a picture but bought one just to talk about owning one. This is true of many high end products. High end sports car owners (lotus/Ferrari/porche/Lamborghini/etc) who can't drive worth a $#!1

Sorry if I was insulting to you.

HiStone

Well snarky is probably true but
for wippersnappers probably acceptable - on the web.
Statistically lots of people buy them (Leicas) as jewelery more so than holgas.
Many Holgas are bought for trendy - plastic jewelry.
Most Holgas are way expensive.
The Lubitel is more than my Canon P & FSU 28mm!
The remanufactured Russar >> astro... more than a nice M2!

Noel

 

[mhcfires]

Sure, any decent camera/ lens combo will do the job, but if you can afford a Leica, by all means get one...they are still lovely things to use.

I really like my Leicas. (one IIIa, one IIIf and one M2). I don't think I'm being snooty when using any of them, I just enjoy using them.


m

 

[Xmas]

pictures look fine, nothing wrong with a summitar, although Leitz obviously thought there was so they made the Summicron.

More normally one of the glass types is no longer made or has been contrabanded.
The glass catalogue changed a lot from '36 to '50 much higher refractive higher dispersion glasses were available.
The very early Summicrons had a thorium glass which was replaced after initial batches.
The Summicron was designed for coating the summitar for uncoated.
You can tell them apart on a slow film and heavy tripod on a chart for off axis IQ, but in normal use if the summitar is coated it will be higher contrast.
People pay a lot more for a Summicron, alas down to marketing.

 

[Hatchetman]

I recently got a Summitar from 1939 as well. I'm a little bit unsure what to make of it. Sometimes very sharp, sometimes not so much. I think I just am not focusing correctly with my Leica III.

 

[StoneNYC]

I recently got a Summitar from 1939 as well. I'm a little bit unsure what to make of it. Sometimes very sharp, sometimes not so much. I think I just am not focusing correctly with my Leica III.

Aperture you're shooting at could have a lot to do with it?

 

[Hatchetman]

Aperture you're shooting at could have a lot to do with it?

Yeah, only three rolls into it, I haven't figured out what exactly is going on. The rangefinder is accurate at least relative to the markings on lens. I haven't done a full blown lens test on it yet. I am going under the assumption that I am just not being careful enough.

 

[mhcfires]

I have both a 1939 Summitar and also an earlier Summar. They are really cool lenses, I use them on my IIIa and IIIf. The Summitar is a bit sharper, but I think it was better cared for in its previous life. They each have their own charm, i don't use those two cameras a whole lot, I missed out an an LTM Summicron a while back, but I don't really miss it, and saved a pile of money in the process.

m

 

[Hatchetman]

Part of me wants to ditch all my gear (35mm, medium, and 4x5) and get an M3 and modern Summicron 50mm. Simplify things. But then I think of those 6x7 transparencies and hesitate.....

 

[StoneNYC]

Part of me wants to ditch all my gear (35mm, medium, and 4x5) and get an M3 and modern Summicron 50mm. Simplify things. But then I think of those 6x7 transparencies and hesitate.....

Yea, I bust on Leica owners a lot, but I want one, an M6 but simply for it's indiscreet size for certain shooting. I was at this event and my canon 1V click was so loud... That's the only reason, don't kill me but I wish they made an auto focus version of the M6 haha! :-0

 

[dehk]

Yea, I bust on Leica owners a lot, but I want one, an M6 but simply for it's indiscreet size for certain shooting. I was at this event and my canon 1V click was so loud... That's the only reason, don't kill me but I wish they made an auto focus version of the M6 haha! :-0

Get a Hexar AF then!

 

[Terry Christian]

Or a Cosina Voigtlander.

 

[StoneNYC]

Get a Hexar AF then!

Is that a fixed lens?

 

[ambaker]

I've got a Contax G2, but alas no lens.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Is that a fixed lens?

Yup. But oh baby what a lens.